SPADE Poker Championship

The MSPT SPADE Poker Championship returns to FireKeepers Casino Hotel in Battle Creek, Michigan, from October 13–18, 2026. The fall festival is built around MSPT Main Event 328, a $1,110 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event carrying a $1,000,000 guaranteed prize pool.

This is the second edition of the SPADE Poker Championship and one of two major annual MSPT championship stops at FireKeepers. The October event is separate from the Michigan Poker State Championship held at the property each spring.

MSPT's published 2026 schedule identifies the SPADE Poker Championship as an MSPT Major, which gives the Main Event 1.5X Player of the Year points. The festival also features nine Gold Card events and multiple Main Event satellite options.

Players planning a Battle Creek trip should use the official 2026 MSPT SPADE Poker Championship schedule for the complete event-by-event listing and structure sheets. MSPT's current tournament calendar should also be checked before traveling in case any dates, times, structures or other tournament details change.

⠀

What Is the MSPT SPADE Poker Championship?

The SPADE Poker Championship is MSPT's fall championship festival at FireKeepers Casino Hotel.

MSPT's current branding identifies the 2026 SPADE Poker Championship as a Major. The Main Event therefore carries the tour's 1.5X Player of the Year multiplier in addition to its $1 million guarantee.

The official MSPT materials reviewed for this guide do not publish an acronym expansion for SPADE. SPADE is the championship's event name and should not be interpreted as a poker variant.

The 2026 festival is scheduled for six days, beginning Tuesday, October 13 and concluding with Main Event Day 2 on Sunday, October 18.

Players following MSPT's Midwest schedule may also find the 2026 MSPT Wisconsin Poker State Championship Tournament Guide and 2026 MSPT Indiana Poker State Championship Tournament Guide useful when planning a longer MSPT tournament schedule.

⠀

SPADE vs. Michigan Poker State Championship

FireKeepers hosts two distinct MSPT championship events during the year.

The spring festival is the Michigan Poker State Championship. The fall festival is the SPADE Poker Championship.

For 2026, the Michigan Poker State Championship was held in May, while the SPADE Poker Championship is scheduled for October 13–18.

That distinction matters because structures, preliminary events, satellites and guarantees can change between the two festivals. Information from the May 2026 Michigan Poker State Championship should not be treated as October SPADE Poker Championship information.

The same rule applies to the inaugural 2025 SPADE Poker Championship. Although some tournament formats look familiar, the 2026 schedule and structure sheets are the controlling sources for this guide.

⠀

2026 Festival Overview

The full 2026 SPADE Poker Championship schedule has now been published.

MSPT lists nine Gold Card events for the festival. The opening portion of the schedule includes several different tournament formats before the Main Event becomes the centerpiece of the weekend.

Among the confirmed supporting events are:

• $400 Epic Stack No-Limit Hold'em with a 50,000 starting stack and 30-minute levels

• $400 Pot-Limit Omaha with a 30,000 starting stack and 30-minute levels

• $300 Seniors No-Limit Hold'em for players age 50 and older with a 30,000 starting stack and 30-minute levels

• $400 Mixed PLO/NLH with a 30,000 starting stack and 30-minute levels

• Additional nightly No-Limit Hold'em Gold Card events during the Main Event portion of the festival

• Multiple milestone and direct Main Event satellites

The published October 2026 schedule does not list the 2025 Monster Stack lineup as part of this year's SPADE festival, and players should not rely on last year's supporting-event schedule.

The complete schedule, including all satellites and Gold Card events, is available through the official MSPT FireKeepers schedule and structure PDF.

⠀

SPADE Poker Championship Main Event

MSPT Main Event 328 is the centerpiece of the festival.

The official 2026 structure lists a $1,110 buy-in, a $1,000,000 guarantee, a 30,000-chip starting stack and 40-minute levels. The tournament is scheduled in the FireKeepers Event Center.

The 2026 Main Event is an MSPT Major, so qualifying results are worth 1.5X Player of the Year points under the current Season 17 scoring system.

Key Main Event details include:

• Buy-in: $1,110

• Guarantee: $1,000,000

• Starting stack: 30,000

• Level length: 40 minutes

• Starting flights: Three

• Day 1A: Thursday, October 15 at 12 p.m.

• Day 1B: Friday, October 16 at 12 p.m.

• Day 1C: Saturday, October 17 at 12 p.m.

• Day 2: Sunday, October 18 at 10 a.m.

• Venue space: FireKeepers Event Center

• Player of the Year multiplier: 1.5X

• Added first-place prize: $3,500 MSPT Championship seat

• Minimum age: 21

The published structure uses 30-minute levels heads-up or when a deal has been made.

Players who want a refresher on how changing blind and ante levels affect tournament play can also review blinds, antes and the dealer button explained.

⠀

Main Event Starting Flights and Day 2

All three Main Event starting flights begin at noon.

Day 1A is Thursday, October 15, Day 1B is Friday, October 16 and Day 1C is Saturday, October 17. The published flight schedule lists late registration through the start of Level 13, with a scheduled registration cutoff of approximately 9:25 p.m.

Unlimited re-entry is available during the published registration period.

The structure calls for each Day 1 flight to continue until approximately 11% of that flight's field remains, rounded up. Players advancing from a starting flight therefore reach Day 2 already in the money.

Players who qualify more than once are subject to MSPT's published best-stack-forward procedure. A player who advances from multiple flights plays the larger qualifying stack on Day 2 rather than combining stacks.

Day 2 begins Sunday, October 18 at 10 a.m. The official schedule does not list a separate Monday continuation, making Sunday the final scheduled day of the Main Event.

Because bagging times depend on field size and how quickly a flight reaches the required percentage, players should not assume each starting day will end at a fixed level.

⠀

$1 Million Guarantee

The 2026 Main Event carries a $1,000,000 guaranteed prize pool.

That figure is important because the inaugural 2025 SPADE Poker Championship had a different guarantee. The 2025 event was guaranteed for $1.5 million, but that amount does not apply to the October 2026 tournament.

The current $1 million figure comes directly from MSPT's 2026 calendar and SPADE schedule.

A guarantee establishes the minimum scheduled prize pool subject to the tournament's official terms. The final 2026 prize pool will depend on the number of entries received and should not be projected from the 2025 turnout.

⠀

Preliminary Gold Card Events

MSPT's official schedule identifies nine Gold Card events during the 2026 SPADE Poker Championship.

The festival opens with a $400 Epic Stack No-Limit Hold'em tournament at noon on Tuesday, October 13. Its published structure gives players 50,000 chips with 30-minute levels.

A $400 Pot-Limit Omaha event follows at 4 p.m. with 30,000 chips and 30-minute levels.

Wednesday, October 14 includes a $300 Seniors No-Limit Hold'em event for players age 50 and older at noon, followed by a $400 Mixed PLO/NLH tournament at 4 p.m. Both use 30-minute levels and 30,000 starting stacks.

Later Gold Card events provide additional No-Limit Hold'em opportunities around the Main Event schedule. Rather than relying on a reproduced schedule that could become outdated, players should check the official MSPT SPADE schedule for every event time and structure.

The published 2026 SPADE schedule does not confirm a Mystery Bounty, Tag Team or 2025-style Monster Stack as part of this festival.

⠀

Satellites and Ways to Qualify

The 2026 schedule includes several routes into the $1,110 Main Event.

One satellite level is a $70 Milestone Satellite in which one in five players advances to a $265 Milestone Satellite. The published structure lists a 15,000 starting stack and 15-minute levels.

The $265 Milestone Satellite awards one $1,110 Main Event entry for every five entries under the published qualification ratio. Its listed structure uses a 30,000 starting stack and 20-minute levels.

MSPT also schedules $135 satellites with a one-in-10 qualification ratio into Main Event Day 1A or Day 1B. The published structure lists 15,000 starting chips and 20-minute levels.

Satellite sessions are listed in the FireKeepers Poker Room rather than the Event Center used for the principal championship events.

Players should verify the exact satellite session they intend to play before entering. The official schedule should be used for dates, registration windows and any seat-allocation conditions. The current searchable schedule information does not establish a general transferability rule for satellite seats, so a won entry should not be assumed transferable.

FireKeepers also advertises recurring MSPT milestone satellites on its regular poker schedule beginning in late August. Those room promotions can change independently of the October festival schedule, so the SPADE schedule remains the correct source for championship-week qualifiers.

⠀

MSPT Gold Cards and Player of the Year

Gold Cards are a current MSPT achievement awarded to winners of eligible MSPT Series events with buy-ins of $200 or more.

According to the official MSPT Gold Card rules, a player's first Gold Card is the Ace of Spades. Later wins progress through the rank sequence before moving to another suit.

Gold Cards are subject to MSPT's chop rules. A card cannot be awarded through a chop before an event reaches three-handed. Once three-handed, an ICM deal that ends the event awards the Gold Card to the chip leader. If the remaining players make a deal and continue playing, at least 10% of the remaining prize pool must be left to play for, with the eventual winner receiving the card.

A Gold Card is an achievement award; it should not be confused with the separate $3,500 MSPT Championship seat added to the SPADE Main Event winner's prize.

The 2026 SPADE Poker Championship is also significant for the Season 17 Player of the Year race.

Under the current MSPT Player of the Year rules, all players who cash in eligible MSPT tournaments earn ranking points. Main Events classified as Majors receive a 1.5X multiplier.

Eligible preliminary events below $1,000 use reduced multipliers based on buy-in. Current MSPT rules list a one-sixth multiplier for $200 events, one-fifth for $250, one-quarter for $300, one-third for $400 and one-half for buy-ins from $500 through $999.

Season 17 runs from January 1 through December 31, 2026. MSPT states that the season's Player of the Year winner will receive a $10,000 Main Event entry for an event taking place in July 2027.

With nine Gold Card events and a 1.5X Major Main Event, FireKeepers can therefore be a meaningful stop for players pursuing the season-long standings.

⠀

Added $3,500 MSPT Championship Seat

MSPT currently lists a $3,500 MSPT Championship seat as an added prize for first place in Main Event 328.

The seat is separate from the SPADE Poker Championship's cash payout and should not be combined with the winner's eventual cash prize when reporting the result.

MSPT's current Championship information identifies the $3,500 MSPT Championship Main Event for November 27–December 2, 2026 at Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood, Florida, with a $2 million guarantee.

The added seat is non-transferable. MSPT also states that the seat winner is responsible for their own transportation and lodging.

That creates an additional championship opportunity for the FireKeepers winner beyond the cash prize, Main Event title, Gold Card and Season 17 POY points.

⠀

Tournament Structures and Registration

Players should use the structure sheets contained in the official SPADE Poker Championship schedule PDF rather than relying on structures from another FireKeepers festival.

For the Main Event, the currently published details include a 30,000 starting stack, 40-minute levels and registration through the start of Level 13.

The regular FireKeepers Poker Room has its own registration procedures. FireKeepers states that tournament registration normally opens two hours before its poker-room tournaments and that a valid ID and Red Hot Rewards card are required.

MSPT championship structures take precedence for festival-specific re-entry periods, level lengths and other tournament procedures.

Players traveling specifically for this festival should confirm the latest structure on the morning they play in case MSPT or FireKeepers issues an update.

⠀

FireKeepers Poker and Tournament Venue

FireKeepers Casino Hotel has a dedicated live poker room and a separate Event Center capable of accommodating larger tournament fields.

For the 2026 SPADE Poker Championship, the published MSPT schedule identifies the Event Center as the tournament space for the major Gold Card events and Main Event. Listed milestone and direct Main Event satellites use the Poker Room.

That means players should not assume every tournament in the festival takes place inside the regular poker room.

FireKeepers currently lists its Poker Room hours as:

• Sunday through Wednesday: 9 a.m. to 4 a.m.

• Thursday through Saturday: Open 24 hours

A Red Hot Rewards Club membership is required to play, and FireKeepers requires valid identification for poker tournament registration.

The property's October 2025 SPADE Championship release described its live poker room as a 21-table room. The current 2026 poker page does not separately publish an updated table-count figure.

Players can check the official FireKeepers Poker page for current room hours, regular tournament information and poker promotions.

⠀

FireKeepers Tournament of Champions Is Separate From MSPT

FireKeepers currently promotes a 2026 Poker Tournament of Champions with more than $100,000 guaranteed.

That promotion is not part of the MSPT SPADE Poker Championship.

FireKeepers describes its Tournament of Champions as a points-based program connected with eligible regularly scheduled poker-room tournaments. Specialty events are treated separately under the room's promotion rules.

Players should therefore avoid combining the FireKeepers Tournament of Champions guarantee with any SPADE Poker Championship prize pool, guarantee or MSPT award.

⠀

Where to Stay

FireKeepers Casino Hotel is the most convenient lodging option for players who want to stay on the tournament property.

MSPT published an official room offer for SPADE Poker Championship visitors covering stays from October 12–19, 2026.

The currently published terms are:

• Hotel: FireKeepers Casino Hotel

• MSPT block code: 090126MSPT_001

• Discount: 10% off the Best Available Rate for that night

• Stay dates: October 12–19, 2026

• Availability: Limited and available until sold out

MSPT's August 11 lodging announcement stated that 25 rooms were available in the block when the offer was posted. That should not be interpreted as a current remaining-room count because inventory can change as reservations are made.

Players booking online should enter the code as the Group Attendee Code rather than the regular discount-code field. The official MSPT FireKeepers lodging announcement provides the terms and booking instructions, while reservations can be checked through the FireKeepers hotel booking system.

FireKeepers currently lists hotel check-in from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. and checkout at 11 a.m. Guests unable to arrive before 10 p.m. are instructed to contact the hotel on the day of arrival to avoid cancellation.

The hotel's standard cancellation policy requires cancellation by 4 p.m. at least 24 hours before arrival to avoid a charge of one night's room and tax. Players should still read the terms attached to their specific MSPT reservation in case the group rate has additional conditions.

All FireKeepers hotel rooms are non-smoking, and guests must be at least 21 to check in. ADA-accessible rooms are available on request.

The official FireKeepers hotel page provides current room and property information.

⠀

Dining and Amenities

Staying on property gives tournament players several food options without requiring a drive away from FireKeepers.

For coffee and a quick breakfast or snack, Gapi Coffee & Sweets has locations serving coffee, sandwiches and desserts. FireKeepers currently lists the hotel Gapi as opening at 6 a.m., useful before a noon Main Event flight.

Smoke 'N Fire is a convenient sit-down option near the hotel lobby and currently opens daily for breakfast through dinner.

Dacey's Sportsbook & Taphouse offers a more casual sports-bar setting, while Chi Mon-ee's is the most useful current late-night option, with FireKeepers listing service into the early morning hours.

Nibi is the property's more formal dinner option for players with time away from the tables.

Restaurant schedules can change before October. Check the official FireKeepers dining directory for current hours before planning a tournament break around a particular restaurant.

Hotel amenities that may be useful during a multi-day poker trip include high-speed internet, a 24-hour fitness center, an indoor pool area, a 24-hour business center and ADA-accessible rooms.

⠀

Parking and Getting There

FireKeepers Casino Hotel is located at:

11177 E. Michigan Avenue Battle Creek, Michigan 49014

The property is directly accessible from Interstate 94 at Exit 104.

FireKeepers currently lists more than 2,600 outdoor parking spaces, free valet parking and free electric-vehicle parking. Players can check the official FireKeepers Getting Here page for current parking information and directions.

FireKeepers also provides accessible hotel rooms on request, and its hotel policies state that wheelchairs are available on a first-come, first-served basis in exchange for a driver's license.

⠀

Flying to Battle Creek

Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport is the most directly associated regional commercial airport for the Battle Creek area. Its official airport information lists commercial connections through major airline hubs.

Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids is another West Michigan option for players comparing flight schedules and fares.

Players flying into either airport should arrange ground transportation based on their own arrival schedule. FireKeepers' current Getting Here page does not advertise a dedicated MSPT airport shuttle.

Because FireKeepers sits directly off I-94, driving remains straightforward for many players arriving from other Michigan cities or neighboring Midwest states.

⠀

Historical SPADE Poker Championship Context

The SPADE Poker Championship debuted at FireKeepers in October 2025.

That inaugural Main Event had a $1,110 buy-in and a $1.5 million guarantee. It drew 2,773 entries and generated a $2,688,310 prize pool.

Merritt Kuhn won the 2025 championship for $339,115.

Those numbers are useful historical context, but they are not 2026 projections. Most importantly, the 2026 Main Event guarantee is $1 million rather than the $1.5 million offered in 2025.

The second SPADE Poker Championship also has its own published preliminary schedule and tournament structures, which is why players should use the current 2026 documents rather than last year's information.

⠀

What Players Should Know

The most important planning points for the 2026 SPADE Poker Championship are straightforward:

• The festival runs October 13–18 at FireKeepers Casino Hotel in Battle Creek.

• MSPT Main Event 328 has a $1,110 buy-in and $1,000,000 guarantee.

• Main Event flights begin at noon Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

• Day 2 begins Sunday at 10 a.m.

• The Main Event uses a 30,000 starting stack and 40-minute levels.

• Main Event registration is scheduled through the start of Level 13.

• The festival has nine Gold Card events.

• The Main Event is an MSPT Major worth 1.5X Player of the Year points.

• A non-transferable $3,500 MSPT Championship seat is added to first place.

• Major festival events are scheduled in the Event Center, while listed satellites use the Poker Room.

• The official FireKeepers hotel offer is 10% off the applicable Best Available Rate using code 090126MSPT_001, subject to availability.

• FireKeepers is located directly off I-94 at Exit 104 and currently offers free valet parking.

Players considering other MSPT options around the same part of the season can also compare the MSPT 100 Grand Stack guide.

The most important final step is to recheck the official 2026 SPADE Poker Championship schedule before traveling. Tournament times and operational details can be revised after a guide is published.

⠀

Frequently Asked Questions

⠀

When is the 2026 MSPT SPADE Poker Championship?

The festival is scheduled for October 13–18, 2026.

⠀

Where is the SPADE Poker Championship held?

It is held at FireKeepers Casino Hotel in Battle Creek, Michigan. The published MSPT schedule lists the Event Center for the principal Gold Card tournaments and Main Event, with listed satellites in the Poker Room.

⠀

What is the SPADE Poker Championship?

It is MSPT's fall championship festival at FireKeepers. The 2026 event is designated an MSPT Major. MSPT does not currently publish an acronym expansion for SPADE, and it is not a poker variant.

⠀

Is SPADE different from the Michigan Poker State Championship?

Yes. FireKeepers hosts the Michigan Poker State Championship in the spring and the SPADE Poker Championship in the fall. They are separate festivals with their own schedules and structures.

⠀

How much is the 2026 Main Event buy-in?

The official 2026 Main Event buy-in is $1,110.

⠀

What is the Main Event guarantee?

MSPT lists a $1,000,000 guarantee for Main Event 328.

⠀

How many Main Event starting flights are there?

There are three: Day 1A on Thursday, October 15, Day 1B on Friday, October 16 and Day 1C on Saturday, October 17. Each begins at noon.

⠀

When is Main Event Day 2?

Day 2 is scheduled for Sunday, October 18 at 10 a.m.

⠀

Are Main Event re-entries allowed?

Yes. The published structure allows unlimited re-entry during the registration period, which runs through the start of Level 13.

⠀

Are satellites available?

Yes. The official schedule includes $70 and $265 Milestone Satellites as well as $135 direct Main Event satellites. Qualification ratios and structures vary by satellite.

⠀

How many Gold Card events are scheduled?

MSPT's official 2026 SPADE schedule lists nine Gold Card events.

⠀

What does the Main Event winner receive?

The winner receives the first-place cash payout determined by the final prize pool, the MSPT championship recognition and applicable Gold Card and Player of the Year benefits. MSPT also adds a $3,500 MSPT Championship seat to first place.

⠀

Is the $3,500 MSPT Championship seat transferable?

No. MSPT states that the seat is non-transferable and that the winner is responsible for transportation and lodging.

⠀

Where is the 2026 MSPT Championship?

MSPT currently lists the $3,500 Championship Main Event for November 27–December 2, 2026 at Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood, Florida, with a $2 million guarantee.

⠀

Does FireKeepers have a hotel?

Yes. FireKeepers Casino Hotel is connected to the casino and Event Center.

⠀

Is there an official MSPT hotel rate?

Yes. MSPT currently offers 10% off the Best Available Rate for that night for stays October 12–19, subject to the limited block remaining available.

⠀

What is the MSPT room code?

The currently published code is 090126MSPT_001. Online guests should use it as the Group Attendee Code.

⠀

Is parking available?

Yes. FireKeepers currently lists more than 2,600 outdoor parking spaces, free valet parking and free EV parking.

⠀

Is the FireKeepers Tournament of Champions part of the MSPT festival?

No. FireKeepers' 2026 Tournament of Champions is a separate poker-room points promotion with more than $100,000 guaranteed. It is not part of the SPADE Poker Championship guarantee or MSPT prize pool.

⠀

Where can players find the complete schedule?

Use the official 2026 MSPT SPADE Poker Championship schedule and structure PDF.